Some of those who own or run dining establishments are of the opinion that bigger is always better when it comes to the ventilation equipment they install. Consequently, they opt for Type 1 exhaust hoods. These resemble big and imposing canopies made of steel. They come either as an island suite or mounted on the kitchen wall.

Now, if your restaurant’s work area has limited square footage, there’s an alternative to the big and clunky canopy hood that you should inquire about from Exhaust Hood Depot.

The Proximity Hood and Its Advantageous Features

Introducing the proximity hood. Otherwise known as a back-shelf, these are generally installed 10 inches to 36 inches above the cooking surface. Unlike an island canopy hood, proximity hoods can have appliances coupled underneath them. Essentially, these proximity hoods are ‘underhung’. This means that they only hang over a portion of the depth of the appliances that have been installed below them. Additionally, they have a special front-edge-lip design that help contain the smoke and grease accumulated from the cooking surface.

When combined, these features make proximity hoods a more efficient option when compared to island canopy hoods. Proximity hoods are better at capturing and directing hot air into the fan so it can efficiently make its way outside the building.

Proximity hoods are also more impressive in that they need lower airflow to operate. They also require less makeup air. Lower airflow rates eliminate the need for efficiency assists such as a demand control ventilation system. This work by ramping exhaust fans. The fans go up and down depending on the amount of cooking that’s going on below.

Proximity hoods are also favored from a perspective of aesthetics. Their main advantage design wise is that they’re compact and sleek looking, an attractive aspect in areas where both wall and ceiling space are a premium.

What to look for at the hood depot

Take these points into account when shopping for a back-shelf.

• Type and height of the equipment
• Height and shape of the hood
• Configuration for operational needs
• Heat load
• Construction quality

Shop at online hood depot

If you don’t have time to drive to your nearest depot, choose to shop online instead. A basic web search will give you access to a number of hood depots in and around your area. Looking for a proximity hood online allows you to compare prices and equipment specs without having to leave the house or your office.

As you go about this, consider finding a supplier or manufacturer that sells custom-built proximity hoods. This way, you can order one with the exact dimensions that you had in mind for your restaurant’s kitchen or dining area. It may cost a bit more but you’ll make more than make up for it in the efficiency of the equipment.

Exhaust Hood Depot is proud to offer its services Nationwide and to the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland and their major cities and surrounding areas: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Erie, Baltimore, Frederick, Annapolis, and Rockville